Compartmented footwear bag

ABSTRACT

A compartmented footwear bag defined by a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, and a bottom panel. The top panel defining a first closable opening and the bottom panel defining a second closeable opening. The footwear bag divided into a first compartment and a second compartment by a flexible inner divider, the flexible inner divider secured to the back panel proximate to the top panel to define a first inner edge proximate the top panel and secured to the front panel proximate to the bottom panel to define a second inner edge proximate the bottom panel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present specification relates generally to compartmented footwear bags and more specifically relates to a portable and compartmented footwear bag that stores and protects footwear of varying shapes and sizes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people transport one or more pairs of shoes or other footwear without wearing the shoes or other footwear. This is particularly common when a user anticipates participating in a two or more unrelated events and activities without returning home or to another permanent footwear storage location. For example, a person who commutes to an office by public transportation may desire casual footwear for the commute and formal footwear for the office, as casual footwear may be more comfortable and may be more suitable for weather conditions while formal footwear may be more appropriate for the office environment.

Transporting shoes or other footwear often increases the risk of damage or soiling. For example, the two shoes of a pair of shoes may contact one another if transported in a conventional shoe bag. Many shoes also do not come with a carrying bag, which may result in a user transporting the shoes in a handbag or general-purpose bag. A pair of shoes transported in a handbag or other general-purpose bag may contact other objects in the handbag or other general-purpose bag. Even where a pair of shoes does come with a shoe bag, the shoe bag is often intended as a dust bag, meant to prevent dust from collecting on the shoes rather than meant to protect the shoes during storage or transportation or other events.

Existing protective shoe bags provide protection through rigid outer structures, compartments specific to particular shoe types, or single and separate compartments for each shoe that act as a separate entity in itself.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a compartmented footwear bag with a flexible inner divider that allows the interior compartments of the footwear bag to adapt their shape as needed to accommodate different shapes of footwear.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the present invention provides a compartmented footwear bag comprising: a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel and a flexible inner divider dividing the interior of the footwear bag into a first compartment and a second compartment; wherein the top panel defines a first closeable opening to the first compartment and the bottom panel defines a second closeable opening to the second compartment; wherein a first end of the flexible inner divider is secured to the back panel proximate to the top panel and a second end of the inner divider is secured to the front panel proximate to the bottom panel, creating a first closed inner edge proximate the top panel and a second closed inner edge proximate to the bottom panel, respectively.

Other aspects and features according to the present application will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention, and how they may be carried into effect, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a footwear bag according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a footwear bag according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a footwear bag according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a footwear bag according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a right side view of a footwear bag according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a left side view of a footwear bag according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a footwear bag in an open position according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a footwear bag in a closed position according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a footwear bag showing the protective lining according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 are cross-sectional front views of six footwear bags depicting a pair of shoes in various configurations according to an embodiment, each bag containing a first shoe and a second shoe with the first shoe in the first compartment depicted in solid lines and the second shoe in the second compartment behind the flexible divider and depicted in dotted lines;

FIG. 11 are cross-sectional views of six footwear bags containing various types of footwear according to embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 12 are front views of seven footwear bags according to embodiments of the invention.

Like reference numerals indicated like or corresponding elements in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As depicted in FIGS. 1-12, embodiments of a compartmented footwear bag, such as footwear bag 100, are configured for transportation, storage and protection of articles, particularly pairs of footwear of varying shapes and sizes.

In some embodiments, footwear bag 100 comprises a front panel 15, a back panel 16, a top panel 7, a bottom panel 8, and a flexible inner divider 17 defining a first compartment 1 and a second compartment 2. The top panel 7 defines a first closeable opening and the bottom panel 8 defines a second closeable opening, which together allow a user to access first compartment 1 and second compartment 2, respectively, and secure a first shoe and a second shoe of a pair of shoes within the first compartment 1 and the second compartment 2, respectively. The top panel may be closed by a first closure means such as zipper 9 and the bottom panel may be closed by a second closure means such as zipper 10. Alternatively, instead of zippers 9 and 10, other closure means may be used, for example, buttons, snaps, magnetics, hook and loop fasteners, laces, drawstring or other suitable fasteners for opening and closing the compartments of the footwear bag.

In some embodiments, such as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, top panel 7 and bottom panel 8 are integrated into front panel 15 and back panel 16, and the first and second closable openings may be defined by openings in the seams between front panel 15 and back panel 16.

In some embodiments, the first compartment 1 is accessible through the first closeable opening on top panel 7 and the second compartment 2 is accessible through the second closeable opening on bottom panel 8. The first compartment 1 is configured for receiving one shoe or other form of footwear and the second compartment 2 is configured for receiving one shoe or other form of footwear.

As shown in FIG. 7, a first end of the flexible inner divider 17 may be secured to the back panel 16 proximate to the top panel 7, which may create a first closed inner edge 3. A second end of the flexible inner divider 17 may be secured to the front panel 15 proximate to the bottom panel 8, which may create a second closed inner edge 4.

The footwear bag 100 may be in the shape of a rectangle (including a square), or other suitable shape for a footwear bag, as desired. The first compartment 1 may be similarly configured to the second compartment 2, such as in size and shape. The first compartment 1 and the second compartment 2 may be of such a dimension to hold footwear of varying shapes and sizes such as formal shoes, boots, children's shoes and athletic shoes such as golf shoes, and even ice skates or inline skates if desired. Footwear bag 100 may be made at least in part from flexible material such as flannel, cotton, polyester, nylon or any other flexible material, which may permit the form and shape of the bag to adapt to the contents of the footwear bag in a similar manner to the first compartment 1 and the second compartment 2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the first compartment 1 and the second compartment 2 may be lined at least in part from protective material 13, 14 such as felt, cotton, flannel, linen, wool, micro fleece, nylon, plastic, rubber or any other protective material. Protective linings 13, 14 may be provided to protect footwear from damage, such as soft material provided to protect footwear from scuffs, or may be provided to protect the bag from damage, such as a durable material provided to protect footwear bag 100 from skates or other footwear. Protective linings 13, 14 may also be provided for a combination of protecting footwear and protecting footwear bag 100.

Protective linings 13, 14 may be integrated into other components of footwear bag 100. For example, protective lining 13 may be a separate lining inside compartment 1 distinct from front panel 15, top panel 7, and flexible divider 17. Alternatively, protective lining 13 may be formed by front panel 15, top panel 7, and flexible divider 17, such as when front panel 15, top panel 7, and flexible divider 17 are formed of soft or durable materials.

According to an embodiment, the materials chosen for the footwear bag 100 may be waterproof and/or machine washable. The materials chosen may also depend on the intended use of footwear bag 100, for example more durable materials may be chosen when footwear bag 100 is intended for use with relatively heavy inline skates than when it is intended for use with relatively light sandals.

Footwear bag 100 may be manufactured in different colours and patterns. This may be both for aesthetic appeal and so that, in some embodiments, different exteriors may visually convey to the user what type of footwear is contained within the footwear bag.

In some embodiments, one or more of the front panel 15, back panel 16, top panel 7, and bottom panel 8 may be made of transparent or semitransparent material to allow the contents to be seen from the outside without opening the footwear bag 100. In some embodiments, one or more of front panel 15, back panel 16, top panel 7, and bottom panel 8 may be opaque but may include a transparent or semitransparent portion or window, such as footwear bag 100F of FIG. 12.

In some embodiments, two or more of the front panel 15, back panel 16, top panel 7, and bottom panel 8 may include a hard protective material, such as one or more of plastic, rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, or metal which serves to protect the contents of the footwear bag 100 if for example the bag was dropped to the ground or collided with another object. Thus, in some embodiments, footwear bag 100 may have a ridged or semi-ridged structure instead of a flexible structure, such as to protect shoes from deformation.

First and second items of a pair of footwear may be placed in first and second compartments 1 and 2, respectively, and may be arranged relative to one another in any convenient orientation. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a pair of one type of shoe is depicted as arranged in footwear bag 100 in six different configurations to suit a user's transportation, storage and packing needs. Further configurations may also be possible, and different types of shoes may permit different configurations.

As shown in FIG. 11, the shape and size of footwear bag 100 may be manipulated to suit a user's transportation, storage or packing needs, and to support a variety of shoe types such as sandals, men's or women's formal shoes, and boots. For example, in some embodiments a footwear bag 100 may be specifically designed to protect a pair of boots rather than a pair of shoes, and compartments 1 and 2 may be more elongated.

In some embodiments, footwear bag 100 may comprise one or more straps or other handles, which may be selected out of various lengths. Straps may allow a user to carry footwear bag 100 more easily, such as allowing a user to carry footwear bag 100 as a purse, handbag, or knapsack. Straps may be configured to be worn in various ways, such as over a user's shoulder or shoulders, across a user's body, or over a user's wrist. For example, as depicted in FIG. 12, footwear bags 100A, 100B, 100C and 100G include straps of various sizes and configurations to permit footwear bags 100A, 100B, 100C and 100G to function as purses or handbags, and footwear bags 100D and 100E includes straps of sizes and configurations to permit footwear bags 100 D and 100E to be dangled from a user's wrist.

To allow storage of additional items, in some embodiments, footwear bag 100 may also comprise exterior pockets or pouches or compartments. For example, as shown by footwear bag 100E of FIG. 12, footwear bag 100 may include a zipper-closed pocket. In some embodiments, footwear bag 100 may also include pockets or pouches or compartments inside one or more of compartments 1 and 2 of footwear bag 100.

In some embodiments, footwear bag 100 may be configured to hold more than a single pair of footwear. For example, footwear bag 100 may be configured to hold two or more pairs of footwear; such as a pair of footwear in each of compartments 1 and 2, when a user desires to separate one pair of footwear from the other.

In some embodiments, footwear bag 100 may be used to carry items other than footwear. In some embodiments, the first compartment 1 and second compartment 2 of footwear bag 100 may be used to separate clean articles from unclean or dirty articles, thereby preventing the clean articles from being mixed in with the dirty articles and becoming soiled. For example, while travelling, clean clothes could be stored in one compartment and dirty clothes in the other. Furthermore, footwear bag 100 may be used to separate a pair of shoes which may carry dust or dirt from clean articles such as clean clothing or shoes.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compartmented footwear bag comprising: a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel and a flexible inner divider dividing the interior of the footwear bag into a first compartment and a second compartment; wherein the top panel defines a first closeable opening to the first compartment and the bottom panel defines a second closeable opening to the second compartment; and wherein a first end of the flexible inner divider is secured to the back panel proximate to the top panel and a second end of the inner divider is secured to the front panel proximate to the bottom panel, creating a first closed inner edge proximate the top panel and a second closed inner edge proximate to the bottom panel, respectively.
 2. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment is similarly configured to the second compartment.
 3. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second compartments is configured to receive one shoe.
 4. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein the front panel, the back panel, the top panel, the bottom panel, and the flexible inner divider are flexible.
 5. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are lined at least in part with a protective material.
 6. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are lined at least in part with a protective material configured to protect the footwear.
 7. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are lined at least in part with a protective material configured to protect the footwear bag.
 8. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein the front and back panels are rectangles.
 9. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein the footwear bag comprises a first closure element for sealing the first closeable opening and a second closure element for sealing the second closeable opening.
 10. The footwear bag of claim 9, wherein the first closure element is a zipper and the second closure element is a zipper.
 11. The footwear bag of claim, 1 further comprising an exterior pocket.
 12. The footwear bag of claim 1, further comprising an interior pocket.
 13. The footwear bag of claim 1, further comprising a cross body strap.
 14. The footwear bag of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder strap.
 15. The footwear bag of claim 1, further comprising a wrist strap.
 16. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein one of the front panel, the back panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel is a rigid material.
 17. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein one of the front panel, the back panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material.
 18. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein one of the front panel, the back panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel includes a transparent or semi-transparent window.
 19. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front panel and the back panel comprises an exterior pattern indicating the content of the footwear bag.
 20. The footwear bag of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first compartment and the second compartment is configured for storing clean articles and the other of the first compartment and the second compartment is configured for storing dirty articles. 